Filling and capping machine



March 17, 1964 R. F. ANDERSON ETAL FILLING AND CAPPING MACHINE 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 13, 1961 MarCh 1964 R. F. ANDERSON ETAL 3,124,916

FILLING AND CAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,124,916 FILLING AND (IAPPENG MACHINE Ralph F. Anderson and Robert P. Sorenscn, both of Rockford, EL, assignors to Ralph F. Anderson, Rockford, Ill.

Filed Sept. 13. 1%1, Ser. No. 137,883 7 Claims. (Cl. 5337) This invention relates to the packaging of semisolid materials such as plastic comestibles and the like, and particularly to an improved method and apparatus for fil-ling containers with a semi-solid material and for thereafter capping the same.

The present invention relates to filling apparatus of the type wherein semi-solid plastic material is discharged in generally continuous fashion through a nozzle into a container, and the container, when filled, is moved crosswise of the nozzle to shear the material in the container from the stream in the nozzle. Such filling apparatus use the container to measure the volume of material and in general are well adapted for accurate repetitive filling of containers. However, the shearing action as the container is moved crosswise of the nozzle produces a somewhat non-uniform upper product line. There is a small withdrawal of material away from the side of the container that leads during movement of the container crosswise of the nozzle and a corresponding build-up or bulge of material at the side of the container that trails during such crosswise movement. This uneven upper product line increases the problems in capping the container and difiiculties have been encountered in applying covers to the filled containers in such a manner as to prevent discharge of some of the bulge of material over the side of the container during the application of the cover. Obviously, any discharge of material from the filled container not only produces an undesirabie loss of product from the filled container, but also contaminates and defaces the outside of the container.

An important object of this invention is to provide, in a filling apparatus of the type wherein semi-solid material is discharged into a container through a nozzle and the container is thereafter moved crosswise of the nozzle to shear the material in the container from the stream in the nozzle, an improved method and apparatus for applying covers to the filled containers to effect leveling of the material in the container and to avoid discharge of material over the sides during the capping operation.

A more particular object of this invention is to pro vide an improved method and apparatus for filling and capping containers wherein plastic material is dispensed through a nozzle into the container at a filling station; the filled container is moved crosswise of the nozzle to shear the material from the nozzle and to advance the container to a capping station; the container is indexed as it is moved from the filling station to the capping station to cause the bulge of material produced at the trailing side of the container mouth during shearing of the material from the nozzle to lead as it moves past the capping station; and the covers are supported at the capping station in a posit-ion to engage the bulge of material and press the same back into the container during the application of the cap.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a simple and reliable arrangement for automatically indexing the containers as they are moved from the filling station to the capping station to properly orient the containers when they move past the capping station.

These together with various ancillary objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference "ice to the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a filling and capping apparatus for practicing the method of the present invention, with some parts broken away to illustrate the details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the filling and capping apparatus of FIG. 1 with the electrical controls shown diagrammatically;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views taken along the section line 33 of FIG. 1 and illustrating different steps in the filling and capping operation; and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the arrangement for indexing the containers as they are moved from the filling station to the capping stat-ion.

In accordance with the present invention, containers are filled through a nozzle and the mouth of the filled container is moved crosswise of the nozzle to shear the material in the container from the streamin the nozzle. This produces an uneven upper product line in the container characterized by a bulge of material at the side of the container that trails during movement crosswise of the nozzle. The filled container is advanced to the capping station in such a manner as to cause the bulge of material to lead as the container moves past the capping station and the cover or lid is supported at the capping station inclined downwardly into the path of movement of the container mouth in a position to press the bulge of material back into the container as the cover is applied to the container.

A filling and capping apparatus suitable for practicing the method of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in general includes a filler nozzle 10 located at a filling station; a cap applying mechanism 11 located at a capping station, and a transfer apparatus 12 for moving the containers from the filling station to the capping station. The containers C are elevated into telescoping relation with the filler nozzle 10 by a container elevating apparatus 13 located at the filling station, and are supported by a support apparatus 14 during filling of the containers. The support apparatus yieldably supports the containers to permit the containers to move downwardly as they are filled and apparatus is provided for moving the containers crosswise of the nozzle, when the mouth of the container is disposed adjacent the lower end of the nozzle, to thereby shear the material in the container from the stream of material in the nozzle. The shearing action produces a displacement of the upper product line and results in a drawdown of material at the side designated ca which leads during movement of the container across the nozzle, and a build-up or bulge designated X of material at the side of the container cb which trails during movement of the container across the nozzle. In order to prevent discharge of some of this bulge of material X over the side of the container during the capping operation, the transfer mechanism 12 is arranged to index the containers as they move from the filling station to the capping station in such a manner that the side cb of the container that trailed during movement across the nozzle, leads during movement past the capping station so that the covers or lids L at the capping station can press the bulge of material X back into the containers. The covers are supported at the capping station in a position inclined downwardly into the path of movement of the mouth of the containers C so that the lids engage the bulge of material X as the containers move thereby and press the same back into the containers.

In the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the various instrumentalities are supported on a base including a top 22 and support posts 23. The nozzle ltl is rigidly mounted as by an arm 24 and a column 25 on the top of the base and the plastic material to be dispensed, for example ice cream, sherbet or the like, is supplied to the nozzle from a suitable source, such as a continuous type freezing apparatus (not shown), through a conduit 26. The nozzle 19 has a cross-sectional configuration corresponding generally to that of the container C to be filled and, as shown, is made round to fill the round-type containers illustrated.

The elevating apparatus 13 includes a container elevat ing platform 28 and containers are advanced on to the platform as by an inlet conveyor diagrammatically shown at 29. The elevating platform 28 is attached to an arm 31 which is mounted for vertical sliding movement by a slide 32 on the frame 22. The elevator is raised and low ered by means of a fluid operator 33 having an extensible and retractible piston rod 34 connected through an arm 35 to the slide 32. As diagrammatically shown in FIG. 2, fluid is reversibly supplied to the operator 33 under the control of a flow reversing valve 36 having controlled outlet ports connected to the fluid operator through conduits 37 and 38. The fluid operator 34 is arranged to elevate the platform 28 and move the container C into telescoping relation with the nozzle lll, as shown in FIG. 4.

The container support apparatus 14 supports the container during filling thereof and allows the container to move downwardly as it is filled. The container support mechanism includes a generally U-shaped frame 41 which is slidably supported in a guideway 42 and which is yieldably retained in adjusted position along the guideway as by a friction brake 43. Spaced container support shoes 44 are swingably mounted on the frame 41 to permit the container to pass therebetween as it is elevated by the platform 23. When the container moves past the shoes 44, the shoes swing inwardly as shown in FIG. 2 to underlie and support the container when the elevating platform 28 is lowered. A mechanism such as the finger 48 is provided on the elevating platform and arranged to engage the container support frame when the platform is elevated, to thereby raise the container support 14 with the elevating platform to a position such as is shown in FIG. 4. The friction brake 43 yieldably opposes downward movement of the container and permits the container to move downwardly under the weight of the material therein and under the pressure on the stream from the nozzle.

The transfer mechanism 12 for moving the containers from the filling station to the capping station is herein shown in the form of an endless-type conveyor 51 having a plurality of container engaging arms 52 disposed at spaced points therealong. The arms are generally shaped complementary to the sides of the containers C to cradle the containers as they are moved by the conveyor. In the particular form herein shown, the endless-type conveyor has a generally triangular configuration and is entrained over sprockets 53 and 54 to provide a first run designated 51a that extends past the filling station and a second run designated 51b disposed at generally right angles to the run 51a and which extends past the capping station 11. Container support rails 58 extend from the filling station past the capping station and a guide rail 59 extends alongside the path of travel of the containers between the filling and capping stations to guide the same.

An apparatus is provided for turning the containers C above their axes through an angle of approximately 180 as they move from the filling station to the capping station so that the bulge of material at the trailing side cb of the containers as they leave the filling station is disposed adjacent the lead side of the containers as they move past the capping station. The container indexing or rotating mechanism is conveniently in the form of an elongated brake arm designated 61 and which has a friction covering such as rubber designated 62 at least on the side which engages the periphery of the containers. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the arm is positioned along the path of travel of the sides of the containers C and is conveniently mounted for horizontal swinging movement on a pin 64. The brake arm or element 61 is yieldably urged into engagement with the sides of the containers, as by a spring 65 which is conveniently adjustable as by a thumb screw 66 to adjust the pressure applied by the arm. As the containers move past the brake element 61, the brake element retards movement of one side of the containers and presses the containers against the smooth guide rail 59 at the other side of the path of travel of the containers. As a result, the containers tend to roll along the brake element and turn about their axes. For conveyors operating at relatively low speeds, the amount of turning of the containers is determined primarily by the length of the brake arm 61 and, under those conditions, the brake arm should have an effective length generally the same as one-half the circumference of the containers, in order to turn the same through approximately 180. When the conveyor is operated at a high speed, it has been found that the rotary motion imparted to the containers tends to cause the same to continue rotating after they have passed the brake element. It is accordingly convenient to adjust the pressure which is applied by the brake element, as by adjusting the spring 65, so that the slippage which occurs upon initial contact between the container and the brake arm can be correlated to the continued rotation which occurs after the container leaves the brake arm, to achieve the desired angular movement of the containers. In the filling apparatus illustrated, the conveyor is intermittently operated to advance the containers in step fashion from the filling to the capping station and a first swingably mounted yieldable stop arm 71 is advantageously provided to stop the containers at a position in advance of engagement with the brake arm 61 as shown in FIG. 1, and a second pair of swingably mounted yieldable stop arms 73 are advantageously provided for stopping the containers C after they have passed the brake arm 61 and before they move past the capping station, as shown in FIG. 5.

The capping apparatus 11 is of the type that includes a chute 81 for supporting a flanged-type cover or lid L, in a position inclined downwardly and in the direction of movement of the containers by the conveyor, into the path of movement of the tops of the containers, as is clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A cover stop 83 releasably retains the cover in position extending downwardly into the path of movement of the containers and with the flange on the lids positioned to engage the bulge X of material in the container to press the same back into the container as the containers are advanced past the capping station. The covers move with the containers and below a pressure plate 86 which is inclined downwardly at a shallow angle to gradually press the lids down onto the containers as they move therebelow.

As previously described, the conveyor 12 is intermittently operated and, as shown, is driven from a motor 91 through a one revolution clutch 92 having an output shaft 93 connected through a gear box 94 to tone of the conveyor sprockets 54. The one-revolution clutch 92 is selectively engaged as by a solenoid 96, and a normally' open switch 97 is mounted to be actuated by the container support apparatus 1 4, when the support apparatus is lowered to a level adjacent the container support rails 58. As diagrammatically shown in FIG. 2, the switch 97, when closed, supplies power from a source S through a conductor 98 and through conductons '99 and 100 to the clutch solenoid 96 to engage the clutch. Engagement of the clutch 92. drives the conveyor a preselected distance and apparatus is provided for automatically extending the elevator platform 28 as soon as the container at the filling station has moved out from below the nozzle. For this purpose, a normally open switch 102 is mounted to be operated by a cam driven by the one-revolution clutch shaft 93'. The switch 1G2, when closed, supplies power through conductors 104 and 105 to a valve actuator 106 to move the main flow reversing valve 36 to a position to extend the fluid operator 33. When the fluid operator reaches the upper end of its stroke and elevates the platform 28 to a position such as shown in FIG. 4, a finger 108 on the slide 32 operates a normally open switch 199. This switch is connected through conductors 111 and C112 to a second valve actuator 113 which returns the valve 36 to its initial position and allows the elevating table to retract. When the elevating table 28 is retracted, the container remains supported by the support apparatus 14 which moves downwardly as the container is filled until the mouth of the container is disposed adjacent the lower end of the nozzle. At that time, the container support mechanism closes the switch 97 toagain operate the onerevolution clutch 92 and index the conveyor. As the containers move from the fill-ing station to the capping station, they pass the brake element 6 1 which turns the containers until the side cb of the container that trailed during movement of the container across the nozzle, leads as the container moves past the capping station. The downwardly inclined cap L is then operative to engage the bulge X of material at adjacent the side cb of the container and press the same back into the container to level the upper product line.

We claim:

1. The method of filling and capping a container which comprises, flowing a semi-solid material through a nozzle downwardly into a container, moving the upper edge of the container crosswise of the lower end of the nozzle to shear the semi-solid material in the container from the stream in the nozzle along the top of the container, the said shearing action producing a displacement of material at the top of the container resulting in a bulge of material at the one side of the container that trails during movement of the container across the nozzle, advancing the container past a capping station, turning the container during movement of the same from the nozzle to the capping station until said one side of the container leads as the container is moved past the capping station, and supporting a cover at the capping station with the cover inclined downwardly in the path of movement of the top of the container to engage the bulge of material at said one side of the container and press the same back into the container.

2. The method of filling and capping a container which comprises, flowing a semi-solid material through a nozzle downwardly into a container, moving the upper edge of the container crosswise of the lower end of the nozzle to shear the semi-solid material in the container from the stream in the nozzle along the top of the container, the said shearing action producing a displacement of material at the top of the container resulting in a bulge of material at the one side of the container that trails during movement of the container across he nozzle, advancing the container past a capping station, turning the container about an upright axis through approximately 180 as it is advanced from the nozzle to said capping station to have said one side of the container lead as the container moves past the capping station, supporting a cover at the capping station with the cover inclined downwardly into the path of travel to the top of the container to engage the bulge of material at said one side of the container and press the same back into the container.

3. In an apparatus having a filling station and a capping station for filling and capping containers, the combination of a nozzle at the filling station for discharging a stream of plastic material, container transfer means for moving a container crosswise of the nozzle with one side trailing and for advancing the container to the capping station, means at the filling station for supporting a container in filling position and operative when the container is filled and the mouth of the container is disposed adjacent the end of the nozzle for operating said transfer means to move the container mouth crosswise of the nozzle and shear the material in the container firom the stream in the nozzle, said shearing producing a displacement of material at the mouth of the container resulting in a bulge of material at said one side of the container that trails during movement of the container across the nozzle, means for turning the container as it is moved from said filling station to said capping station suflicient to cause said one side of the container to lead as it moves past the capping station, and means at the capping station for releasably supporting a cover with the cover inclined downwardly into the path of movement of the mouth of the container whereby the cover engages the bulge of material at said one side of the container and presses the same back into the container.

4'. In an apparatus having a filling station and a capping station for filling and capping round containers, the combination of a nozzle at the filling station for discharging a stream of plastic material, a conveyor means having a container engaging arm movable past said filling station and said capping station for moving a container crosswise of the nozzle with one side trailing and for advancing the container to the capping station, means at the filling station for supporting a container in filling position and operative when the container is filled and the mouth of the container disposed adjacent the end of the nozzle for operating said conveyor means to move the container mouth crosswise of the nozzle and shear the material in the container from the stream in the nozzle, said shearing producing a displacement of material at the mouth of the container resulting in a bulge of material at the one side of the container that trails during movement of the container crosswise of the nozzle, means for turning of the containers as they are moved by said conveyor means from the filling station to the capping station sufiicient to cause said one side of the container to lead as the container moves past the capping station, and means at the capping station for releasably supporting a cover with the cover inclined downwardly into the path of movement of the mouth of the container to press said bulge of material back into the container.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein container turning means includes an elongated brake element extending along the path of movement of the containers and nonslidably engaging the periphery of the containers as they move from the filling station to the capping station to impart a turning movement to the containers as it moves along said element.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said conveyor means includes a smooth guide element extending along one side of the path of movement of the containers as they are moved from the filling station to the capping station, said container turning means including an elongated brake element disposed adjacent the other side of the path of travel of the containers between the filling station and the capping station, and means yieldably urging said brake element into engagement with the periphery of the containers as they move thereby to impart a turning movement to the containers as they move along said element.

7. In an apparatus having a filling station and a capping station for filling and capping containers, the combination of a downwardly opening filler nozzle for discharging a stream of plastic material, means at the dispensing station for elevating a container into telescoping relation with said nozzle, conveyor means for moving containers crosswise of the nozzle with one side trailing and for advancing the containers to said capping station, means at the container filling station yieldably supporting the container for downward movement as it is filled by said nozzle, means responsive to filling of the container and operative when the mouth of the container is adjacent the end of the nozzle for operating said conveyor means to move the container crosswise of the nozzle and shear the material in the container firom the stream in the nozzle, said shearing producing a displacement of material at the mouth of the container resulting in a bulge of material at said one side of the container that trails during movement of the container crosswise of the nozzle, means turning the container about its upright axis through substantially degrees as the container moves from the 7 filling station to the capping station to cause said one side of the container to lead as it moves past said capping station, and means at the capping station for supporting a cover with the cover inclined downwardly into the path of movement of the mouth of the container to level the material in the container as the cover is applied thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,160,285 Rou-th May 30, 1939 -8 Davies Dec. 21, 1943 Tambiniet'al Aug. 12, 1952 Kennedy Sept. 8, 1953 Jackson 'et a1 Sept. 27, 1955 Fischer et a1. Dec. 31, 1957 

1. THE METHOD OF FILLING AND CAPPING A CONTAINER WHICH COMPRISES, FLOWING A SEMI-SOLID MATERIAL THROUGH A NOZZLE DOWNWARDLY INTO A CONTAINER, MOVING THE UPPER, EDGE OF THE CONTAINER CROSSWISE OF THE LOWER END OF THE NOZZLE TO SHEAR THE SEMI-SOLID MATERIAL IN THE CONTAINER FROM THE STREAM IN THE NOZZLE ALONG THE TOP OF THE CONTAINER, THE SAID SHEARING ACTION PRODUCING A DISPLACEMENT OF MATERIAL AT THE TOP OF THE CONTAINER RESULTING IN A BULGE OF MATERIAL AT THE ONE SIDE OF THE CONTAINER THAT TRAILS DURING MOVEMENT OF THE CONTAINER ACROSS THE NOZZLE, ADVANCING THE CONTAINER PAST A CAPPING STATION, TURNING THE CONTAINER DURING MOVEMENT OF THE SAME FROM THE NOZZLE TO THE CAPPING STATION UNTIL SAID ONE SIDE OF THE CONTAINER LEADS 